Thill-coupling



" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.A

STEPHEN e. SMITH, oE HANNIBAL, MISSOURI.

SPECIFICATION fOrmng part Of Letters Patent N0. 402,545, dated April 30, 1889.

' i Application filed February 4, 1889- Serial No. 298,601. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN G. SMITH, of Hannibal, in the county of Marion and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thill-Couplings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates'to an improvement in thin-couplings, the object being to provide a de vice that will absolutelyprevent any rattlin g of parts and prevent the shaft-iron from being moved toward the clip-when the vehicle is going downgrade. I

A further object is to provide a device for the p revention of the rattling of parts that can be applied to any ordinary thill-coupiing 1n use.

A further object is to provide a device of non-yielding material adapted to be placed between the shaft-irons and clip to prevent rattling, and be yieldingly held in position to permit the shaft to be readily turned.

With-these ends in view my invention consists in the partsand combinations of parts, as will be more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in transverse section showing my improved device attached to a chill-coupling. Fig. 2 isa view of the metal bearings and curved shank. Fig. 3 is a detached view of the securing-bar, and Fig. 4 is a view of a modified form. l f

A represents the axle, and B a clip, of ordinary construction, secured thereto by the bar C, which latter'projects forwardly, and is provided with an oblique opening and a lower beveled front edge. The clip and bar'are secured together by nuts in the usual manner, and the former is provided with the forwardlyextending ears D, through which the securing-bolt E passes. AThe thill-iron F is provided with an eye of Vusual form, through which the bolt attached to ears D of the clip B passes.

Within the space between the head or eye of the thill-iron and the front face of the clip is Vlocated the metal block G( This'bloek, which is preferably made of brass, is provided with a iiat rear face which rests against the front face of thet clip B, and with a forwardly-pro-V j ecting lip, a, the lower edge or face of which is beveled or curved and rests on or against the curved surface of the eye of the thill-iron. From n the lower surface of the block G depends the arm H, which latter .is inclined or curved forwardly, and passes downwardly through the space between the eye of the thill-iron and the clip and through the oblique opening-b in the front end of bar C.

Encircling the arm H below bar C, with one end resting against the beveled face c of said bar, is the Spiral spring I, which latter is held in place on the arm by the nut J. By tightening the nut the springs tension is increased, and hence the block G is yieldingly held between the clip B and eye 0f the thill-iron and always in engagement with both.

In the modified form shown in Fig. i 'the bar C is dispensed with and an ordinary securing-bar employed in its stead. Resting against the under side of the ears D is the cross-bar C', having an opening therein for the passage of the arm I of block G. Below cross-bar C', and bearing against the same, is the spring l, held in place by nut J, as in the former construction.

Heretofore the devices used for preventing rattling have been a spring or rubber cushion placed between the eye-piece and axle-clip, which are defective, in that they require frequent renewal. Another objection is that the forward pressure of the vehicle on a downgrade will overcome the Spring and leave the thill free to Avibrate and rattle.

Another form of device for preventing rattling consists in the employment of two blocks adapted to bear at points above and below bolt E against the eye of the thill-iron. This form is objectionable in that the two bearing-points cause an undue amount of friction, which makes the thill-iron work heavily in the clip.

With my improvement the block and securing parts can be placed in position without removing the thill-iron from the clip, and the block being made of non-yielding material and held in position by a spring and nut absolutely prevents any unnecessary movement 10o of the thill-iron, but permits of the free turning of the iron on the bolt.

It is evident that numerous slight changes in the construction and arrangement of the several parts might be resorted to without doparting from the spirit of 1n y invention; hence I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the exact construction shown, but consider myself at liberty to make such slight changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is*

l. In athill-eoupling, the combination, with a clip, a thill-iron having an eye, and a bolt passing through the clip and eye, of a nonyielding block located between the clip and adJacent end of the thill-iron and provided with a flat face which bears against the front face of the clip, and with a forwardly-projecting lip which overhangs and rests on the thilliron, an arm depending from the lower face of the block, a spring encircling said arm and bearing against a rigid support, and a nut secured on the arm and forming a bearing for the spring, substantially as set forth.

2. In a thill-coupling, the combination, with a clip, a thill-iron, and a securing-bolt, of the securing-bar provided with a beveled front end, and an oblique opening through said front end, a non-yielding block located between the clip and eye of the thill-iron and having a beveled lip which rests on or against the head of the thill-iron, a forwardly-curved arm depending' from the block and passing through the oblique slot in the bar, a spring encircling the arm and resting against the inclined or beveled end of the bar, and a nut for locking the spring in position, substantially as Set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN F. CLEMENTS, J. F. MANGELS. 

